Oestrogen and Mirena

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Hello, can anyone please help? I am booked in to get a Mirena next week, and picked up Oestrogel from the pharmacy today. The leaflet talks about having a withdrawal bleed, but my understanding is it’s to be used daily, and the coil will deliver the progesterone element. So I wondered where the bleed comes in? I am currently on the mini pill and have no periods, but my GP says it is not licensed for HRT.

i’m 49 if that is relevant, periods started being a bit erratic a few years ago, hence PoP.

That thread title should have been OestroGEL. Sorry - I didn’t realise it had autocorrected.

Hi @Judystilldreamsofhorses I think your understanding is correct. The Mirena will give you the progesterone part of your HRT and you won't have a withdrawal bleed. In fact, it might stop your periods completely, it did with me.

You get a withdrawal bleed if you are on progesterone tablets like Utrogestan and taking it only part of the month. If your progesterone is continuous as it is with the Mirena or when you take tablets daily, then you don't have a bleed.

Be prepared for some cramping after the Mirena fitting, and you might have spotting for a while. It can take a few weeks to settle down.

Thanks @DramaAlpaca - I don’t have bleeding with the mini pill so figured this would be the same. It’s annoying that it doesn’t count for HRT!

I read a thread last night about a poster who wanted her Mirena out the day after insertion, then loads of people with horror stories so feeling very anxious about it.

If it’s your first Mirena you may experience intermittent bleeding for a few months. Probably more spotting if you are already on the mini pill. The Mirena coil works in two ways it mechanically stops implantation and it stops the endometrium ( womb lining ) from thickening, which is required for implantation. As HRT it stops womb lining thickening but can take a little while to be effective.
Don’t expect instant results for most women HRT isn’t an instant hit. We all remember it as that but in reality it takes a few months to take effect. I think the older forms of HRT that were taken orally were more dramatic.
Personally I didn’t find that HRT improved much, it stopped the mild hot flushes ( which didn’t bother me) but it didn’t help the insomnia or muscle aches and pains.
I had to come off it when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I started on hormone blockers. I fast tracked to post menopausal in under 6 mnths and now feel great. Just the odd hot flush but no more muscle and joint pain, the palpitations have gone and I sleep for a minimum of 6 hours solid at night.

Take 600-800mg of Ibuprofen ( if you can) 30 mins before your appoint. I found it really helped.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses the woman who wanted her Mirena out the day after insertion, probably either had an extreme reaction, or she didn't give it long enough.

I had a Mirena fitted 5 weeks ago and whilst the jury is still out as to whether I keep it long term, I'm going to give it a fair shot.

The cramping is intermittent, but less so now. The bleeding is only spotting on and off ( and so far, touch wood, nothing write home about).

I had one fitted, to allow me to take Oestrogen, as I was bleeding on pretty much every continuous regime.

You will always read the negative and the positive..

Best of luck 🤞

I got these painkillers to take before/after - do they look okay or should I get something different? I can take most things!

Those painkillers should be fine @Judystilldreamsofhorses

I had a replacement Mirena fitted two days ago. Poor GP struggled to get the old one out but new one was in before i realised it!

I took two Ibuprofen an hour before i went to appointment and haven't needed to take anything since.

Just hoping i am able to get hold of the Oestrogel now.

I had mine changed a couple of months ago. Was in & out in 9 mins, which included a pregnancy test.

Had one for 11 years, life-changing in a good way for me. Now on hrt with the gel & coil. Working really well for me. I perked up after the change as my old one had been in for 6 years due to covid. I read the thread too & I think the issues were more to do with previous trauma, which is understandable. It is intimate but the benefits for me have far outweighed the initial discomfort. I'd agree about a painkiller but if done well, it's very quick.

That’s really reassuring, thank you. My surgery doesn’t fit them so I was referred to the sexual health centre. I assume the doctors there are absolute pros at it and it’s bread and butter work, whereas some GPs might just do the odd one here and there.

Re Oestrogel my pharmacy had it in the back, it was there for me to collect the day after the surgery sent the script over. So maybe that crisis is over? (Or perhaps different here in Scotland?)

It’s in. I found it really uncomfortable but the doctor was lovely. I had to go to bed with a hot water bottle (and the cat) when I got home but feel a bit better now. Annoyingly I need to be referred to hospital for an abdominal scan because I have a tilted uterus and it didn’t all fit (show?) on the vaginal scan.